WATERTOWN, N.Y. – One night after dropping a heartbreaking extra-inning decision at East Field, the Watertown Wizards got redemption. Kevin Whitehead (Canisius) smashed a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the 15th inning that allowed John Bowron (Ohio Dominican) to score from third as the Watertown Wizards defeated the Glens Falls Golden Eagles, 6-5, on Monday night at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds. The Wizards (15-24) are scheduled to conclude the regular season with a home doubleheader against Mohawk Valley on Wednesday.

 

Pinch-hitter Kyle Sutherland (Edmonds C.C.) drew a lead-off walk against Glens Falls reliever Ryan Retz (Pima C.C.) to open the home half of the 15th. Brig Tison (George Mason) hit into a fielders’ choice that erased Sutherland at second for the first out of the inning. John Bowron (Ohio Dominican) followed with a grounder that looked like a sure double-play ball. Tison was cut down at second but Bowron beat the relay throw to first to keep the inning alive. Ben Kincaid (Minnesota State) lofted a single into shallow center field that allowed Bowron to go from first to third. With the winning run 90-feet away, Whitehead ripped a first-pitch single up the middle to score Bowron with the game-winning run.

 

The 15-inning contest set a Watertown franchise record as the longest game in team history. The tilt took four hours and 20 minutes to complete and featured 22 hits and seven pitchers.

Much like Sunday night’s 5-4 Glens Falls win in 10 innings, each team took its’ turn with the lead and Watertown forced extra innings with a Kody O’Connor (LeMoyne) sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

 

Marshall Thompson (West Virginia), Ben Kincaid (Minnesota State) and Brig Tison combined for seven and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Tison, who started the game at short stop, allowed just one hit in two frames to earn the victory. Kincaid, in his first mound appearance since July 3, struck out three and yielded one hit in three and two-thirds innings. Starter Eugene Sturm (Minnesota State) allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck out six and seven and one-third innings. The four Watertown pitchers combined strand 17 Glens Falls runners on base.

Offensively, Ben Kincaid totaled a team-high three hits. Robbie Gilles went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two extra-base hits and two runs scored. Kody O'Connor was 2-for-5 with two runs driven in and John Bowron had two hits and two runs scored.

 

The visiting Golden Eagles took advantage of six Watertown errors and were led by the combination of Chris Lashmet (Northwestern) and Ryan Retz. Lashmet went 4-for-8 with one RBI and one run scored to go along with several sparkling plays in the field. Retz took the hard-luck loss for the Golden Eagles. He pitched seven and one-third innings of relief, struck out seven and allowed one run on three hits.

 

The Wizards raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Host Family Night. John Bowron and Ben Kincaid rapped back-to-back singles with one out off of Glens Falls starter Kyle Sumple (Siena). With two outs, Robbie Gilles lashed a double to right-center field that scored both Bowron and Kincaid to give the Wizards a 2-0 lead. Gilles went to third on an infield hit by Kody O’Connor and then recorded Watertown’s third score on a wild pitch. The Purple and Gold added another run in the third inning off of reliever Anthony Siracusa (Tompkins Cortland C.C.). Robbie Gilles tripled to right-center field and scored on a Kody O’Connor double down the left-field line.

 

A trio of Watertown errors and a Chris Lashmet RBI single in the fifth inning decreased Watertown’s lead to 4-3. Glens Falls scored two runs in the eighth to grab a 5-4 advantage. Mike Mercurio drove Watertown starter Eugene Sturm from the game with a one-out double that moved pinch runner Alex Carnall (UTPA) to third. Reliever Marshall Thompson threw a wild pitch that plated Carnell with the tying run. Mercurio scored the go-ahead tally for Glens Falls on an Arthur Owens (Ga. Southern) sacrifice fly to center field.

 

For the second night in a row, the Wizards battled back from a late deficit to tie the game. Kevin Whitehead drew a lead-off walk in the eighth and advanced to second on a passed ball. Whitehead got to third on a Robbie Gilles sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate to level the score on a Kody O’Connor sacrifice fly to center field.

 

Following the game, the Wizards front office announced the recipients of the annual season-ending awards. Winners of the awards are as follows:

 

Most Valuable Player: Ben Kincaid (Minnesota State)

Offensive Most Valuable Player: Brady Wilson (West Virginia)

Pitcher of the Year: Shae Simmons (SE Missouri State)

Defensive Player of the Year: Brig Tison (George Mason)

 

The Wizards are scheduled to conclude the regular season with a home doubleheader against the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs on Wednesday. Another game with Mohawk Valley may be scheduled on Thursday if it impacts’ Mohawk Valley’s playoff chances.

 

The Watertown Wizards return to action on Wednesday, July 28, at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds for a doubleheader with the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs on Fan Appreciation Night. It will also be a “Wild Wing Wednesday” sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 5:05 p.m. Both games can be heard on TEAMLINE. For ticket information, call 315-212-4096.